Albert Parker Niblack (July 25, 1859 – August 20, 1929) was a

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

admiral who served during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. In 1940, the USS ''Niblack'' (DD-424), sponsored by his widow, was named in his honor.

Biography

Niblack was born in Vincennes, Indiana. He was appointed to the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

September 22, 1876; graduated June 10, 1880; and was assigned to ''Lackawanna''. During the decades that followed, Niblack served on many ships and held several interesting posts ashore including work with the

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

, duty in the Bureau of Navigation, and a tour in the

Office of Naval Intelligence The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) is the military intelligence agency of the United States Navy. Established in 1882 primarily to advance the Navy's modernization efforts, it is the oldest member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and serves ...

. He won his first command, ''Iroquois'', February 10, 1904, and subsequently commanded some of the Navy's most famous ships including and . He was naval attaché to

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Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, and the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, and served as a member of the General Board. When the United States entered

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he took command of Division 1,

U.S. Atlantic Fleet The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFF) is a service component command of the United States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such as United Stat ...

, with ''Alabama'' (BB-8) as flagship April 5, 1917, and was appointed

Rear Admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

August 31. Niblack assumed command of Squadron 2, Patrol Force, October 23, and served in this post through the Armistice. He became Director of Naval Intelligence March 1, 1919, and Naval Attaché in London August 6, 1920. As Vice Admiral, he commanded U.S. Naval Forces in European waters January 15, 1921 to June 17, 1922. After commanding the 6th Naval District at Charleston, S.C., Vice Admiral Niblack retired July 25, 1923. In 1927 Niblack was appointed head of the

International Hydrographic Bureau The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is an intergovernmental organisation representing hydrography. , the IHO comprised 98 Member States. A principal aim of the IHO is to ensure that the world's seas, oceans and navigable waters a ...

in Monaco, a post he held until his death."OBITUARY. ''The Manchester Guardian'', 21 August 1929, pg. 12 He was a member of the Military Order of the Carabao. He died at

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (; ; french: Monte-Carlo , or colloquially ''Monte-Carl'' ; lij, Munte Carlu ; ) is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is ...

, in Monaco on August 20, 1929.

Publications

* Albert P. Niblack, ''Putting Cargoes Through: The U.S.Navy at

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

During the First World War, 1917-1919,'' Edited with an Introduction by

John B. Hattendorf John Brewster Hattendorf, D.Phil., D.Litt., L.H.D., FRHistS, FSNR, (born December 22, 1941) is an American naval historian. He is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of more than fifty books, mainly on British and American maritime hi ...

. (Gibraltar: Calpe Press, 2018).

References

External links

history.navy.mil: USS ''Niblack''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niblack, Albert Parker 1859 births 1929 deaths American expatriates in Monaco United States Navy personnel of World War I Directors of the Office of Naval Intelligence Hydrographers United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy admirals